FORMER Warrnambool resident Oscar Robinson wants to kick start his Victorian Athletics League season in style at his home gift. The 25-year-old, who will hit the grass at Friendly Societies Park on December 1 followed by the Terang Gift the next day, is eyeing off the hitting the final VAL meet in Stawell in good form. “I would like to have a couple of wins in the lead up but it is an art to keep the body in one piece and peak at the right time,” Robinson said. “Everyone is trying to do the same thing and you just have to try and do it better than they can. “The Stawell Gift is the big dance and it’s as big as it gets in our sport so Warrnambool is a great opportunity to get into some good form and springboard from there.” Robinson’s last victory, before a series of hip and calf calf injuries hampered his form, was in 2015 at Stawell where he won the Hall of Fame 1600-metre backmarkers' handicap. The Melbourne-based middle-distance runner will be traveling home to Warrnambool with a full team from Hippo Athletic Club and its head coach Mark Hipworth for the VAL double-header in the two south-west towns. Robinson said he and his club mates were still adjusting to the shift from the tough cross country circuit into the track season. “It’s an interesting time where you are making the transition from cross country in winter to the summer track stuff so your body is a bit vulnerable,” he said. “It is a bit of an art to get yourself right and I sort of change my training up from running lots of kilometres each week in winter to easing it down to short form for summer.” Robinson, who works as an advertiser in the state’s capital, moved away six years ago after finishing school said his parents still living in Warrnambool. His brother, Ben, 21, and sister Erica, 24, have only recently moved down to Melbourne in the past year.

Former Warrnambool resident Oscar Robinson is returning home for the Victorian Athletics League season opener

GIFT GOALS: Former Warrnambool resident Oscar Robinson is eager to return to his 2015 winning form at Stawell. Picture: Samantha Camarri

FORMER Warrnambool resident Oscar Robinson wants to kick start his Victorian Athletics League season in style at his home gift.

The 25-year-old, who will hit the grass at Friendly Societies Park on December 1 followed by the Terang Gift the next day, is eyeing off the hitting the final VAL meet in Stawell in good form.

“I would like to have a couple of wins in the lead up but it is an art to keep the body in one piece and peak at the right time,” Robinson said.

“Everyone is trying to do the same thing and you just have to try and do it better than they can.

“The Stawell Gift is the big dance and it’s as big as it gets in our sport so Warrnambool is a great opportunity to get into some good form and springboard from there.”

Robinson’s last victory, before a series of hip and calf calf injuries hampered his form, was in 2015 at Stawell where he won the Hall of Fame 1600-metre backmarkers' handicap.

The Melbourne-based middle-distance runner will be traveling home to Warrnambool with a full team from Hippo Athletic Club and its head coach Mark Hipworth for the VAL double-header in the two south-west towns.

Robinson said he and his club mates were still adjusting to the shift from the tough cross country circuit into the track season.

“It’s an interesting time where you are making the transition from cross country in winter to the summer track stuff so your body is a bit vulnerable,” he said.

“It is a bit of an art to get yourself right and I sort of change my training up from running lots of kilometres each week in winter to easing it down to short form for summer.”

Robinson, who works as an advertiser in the state’s capital, moved away six years ago after finishing school said his parents still living in Warrnambool.

His brother, Ben, 21, and sister Erica, 24, have only recently moved down to Melbourne in the past year.